Cynap plays key role in state-of-the-art learning spaces

The Electrical and Mechanical Services Department (EMSD) is a Hong Kong government department responsible for inspection and enforcement of operation and safety for various types of electrical and gas installations such as railway and tram networks, lifts and escalators, amusement rides, working platforms on building sites, and many more. To celebrate the department’s 70th anniversary EMSD decided to build a state-of-the-art learning centre to help deliver its training programmes using the best technology available. The installation utilises AV over IP technology to enable any input source to be output to any other device within the project space. Installation was completed in October 2018, with WSP appointed as consultants, and i-Control and Mind Design selected as integrators.

Mobile Philips interactive touch panels in the EMSD classroom.

In an interview, Alex Wong, solutions executive for i-Control said: “EMSD really wanted to create a modern learning environment using the latest technological advancements such as virtual reality, which it believed would represent the content pertaining to training for maintenance of mechanical and engineering parts in the best possible way. Interactivity was also a key requirement from EMSD so videowalls and holograms with integrated QR scanning systems were proposed so that objects shown would engage the trainees and get them to participate in the discussion rather than sit in a traditional classroom where they just listen to the trainer talk.”

Cynap background wallpaper on classroom main display.

This outstanding new EMSD learning centre consists of a lecture theatre, an interactive learning space, and a multi-purpose training room, where WolfVision Cynap presentation and collaboration systems are installed in order to provide wireless BYOD presentation capability for all trainees. The advantage of using a Cynap system is that it does not require the use of additional apps or dongles for operation, and with support for AirPlay, Miracast, and Chromecast, it ensures that users of any iOS, Android, Windows, or Mac OS devices are able to share their screen onto the main screen using the mirroring technology built into their own mobile devices.

Alex Wong talks about the selection of the Cynap over other competing products on the market: “We had a specific use case where we required content from multiple interactive touch panels to be shared with a large, central screen. In the past this was only possible with Microsoft Surface Hub. But now WolfVision Cynap can provide similar functionality and we chose it as the wireless presentation solution.” The Cynap system installed in the multi-purpose hall enables content to be shared flexibly between trainers and trainees using Philips touch displays and the video wall. Trainees can also share content wirelessly using their own mobile devices.

EMSD Interactive Learning Centre, Hong Kong
Alex Wong said in conclusion: “EMSD used to have standard AV equipment such as projectors and screens and wireless microphones. Everything was analogue. But now it is fully digital. This installation involved a lot of new technology, so the challenge for us was to learn the tech as we went. This is an AV over IP deployment and we had to set up the network switch, assign ports, program and do voice control. There was a lot of trial and error on our part but we overcame the learning curve and rose to meet the challenge.”